NEW FORMAT, NEW HOST, NEW JUDGE & 24 CANDIDATES FOR SEASON 3 OF “BANK ON ME” SERIES

by Bajan Reporter / September 6th, 2016

With a new format for the reality show that means business, Blue Waters Productions, in association with Scotiabank revealed the 24 candidates who will face the judges when shooting of Bank on ME commences this Saturday.

Blue Waters Productions also announced the new host, Belle Holder, an experienced television presenter, and a new Judge, Scotiabank Marketing Manager, Sharon Small who will sit on the judging panel on behalf of the presenting sponsor from inception, Scotiabank.

Executive Producer/Director, Alison Saunders revealed that in response to viewer requests, the show would have a new hour long format that would offer more of the contestants interacting with the judges, behind the scenes with each other, preparation for the show and a special segment on innovation. The popular People’s Choice Link returns this year and will allow them to vote for their favourite candidate.”

The Executive Producer also praised presenting sponsor Scotiabank for their major sponsorship of the show from inception. She particularly commended the initiative of Claire Jordan, Director of Retail Banking who immediately shared her vision for the show and encouraged Scotiabank to support it. Jordan said: “As the economy has contracted over the past few years, employment opportunities have also contracted.

Increasingly, people are choosing to be craftsman of their own fate through entrepreneurship. Whether you are an entrepreneur through choice or chance, the show places you in a position to help you to create your own opportunities.

One of our mandates is to provide practical advice and solutions, and “Bank on Me” does this through education and mentorship. It’s a testament to the show that they attracted additional private investment in both the first and second seasons, I urge the public to get involved and offer their support for the coming season.”

From April – July 2016, the 33 candidates attended a practical, intensive four month ‘Business Bootcamp‘ with experienced business leaders and Wellness Programme by Bajan Fusion which was conceptualised to better prepare the entrepreneurs for the show and investors. At the end of the Bootcamp, the candidates were required to pitch to a judging panel, 24 chosen to progress to the next stage of the competition.

One of the trainers, Richard Blades, Business Development Specialist, who was also a judge for the first elimination said: “Bank on Meoffers a phenomenal experience for participating entrepreneurs. Since conducting the first training session, then being on the initial selection panel, gave me an opportunity to witness the development and transformation of the candidates and their businesses. The show provides a fantastic platform entrenched in practicality.”

Saunders said: “We surveyed the candidates after the training on the value to their business and they gave the business boot camp very high ratings.”

This special 2020 edition of the show celebrates Barbados’ 50th anniversary of independence and targets the areas of Cultural Industries, Agri-business, Innovation, Research, (CAIRS) plus Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). These areas of focus deemed by the Government to be critical to Barbados’ economic development, formed the basis of the training programmes in the ‘Business Bootcamp‘.

Saunders also commended the Government of Barbados for the new measures presented in the recent Budgetary Proposals to assist micro, small and medium sized businesses. She particularly applauded the tax amnesty and the 50 million dollar fund for grants and soft loans and commented that the show had been preparing 86 entrepreneurs since 2013 to access such opportunities and stood ready to collaborate with Bank on ME public sector partners – Fund Access and BIDC who are expected to be involved in implementation of the funding initiative.